Giving Opportunities

As the end of the year approaches, you’re probably thinking about your next gift to Back Bay Mission. We want to share some important information – especially important if you want to claim your gift on your taxes for this year – about the end of year gifts to the Mission.

If you’re mailing your gift to Back Bay Mission, it must be postmarked by December 31, 2018. Gifts postmarked after that date will be counted for 2019. Please mail your gifts to Back Bay Mission, PO Box 288, Biloxi, MS 39533.

If you’re making your gift on our website, you must make the gift by 11:59 pm central time on December 31, 2018. You can make your gift HERE.

Thank you for strengthening neighborhoods, seeking justice, and transforming lives through your gifts to Back Bay Mission!  

For decades, shrimp boils have been a traditional way for churches to support Back Bay Mission. Every year, churches and other organizations around the country host these simple events. Through them, congregations strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Traditionally, shrimp boils are simple events that any church can easily host. And to make it easier, we’ve prepared this short guide to host one! We hope you’ll take a look and consider supporting Back Bay Mission by hosting your own shrimp boil.

Shrimp Boil Basics

Shrimp boils are informal events. The traditional Gulf Coast shrimp boil recipe is nothing more than water, shrimp, lemon, seasoning, heat, and time. The cooked and drained shrimp is then poured out over newspaper-covered tables and served with cocktail sauce and drinks. Cleanup is taken care of by gathering everything on the table and putting it right in the trash. No dishes or silverware means no fuss, no muss.

When it comes to programming, we generally suggest dinner first. An hour for dinner and an hour (or less) for a program strikes a good balance between fun and learning. The program portion of the evening can be taken care of by volunteers from your congregation, people in your area who have agreed to represent the Mission or even Mission staff!

Shrimp boils raise money either through ticket sales or free-will offerings (or both). These, too, keep things simple. Ticket costs can be based on the amount it costs to host the event. Free-will offerings may mean that the church has to cover at least some of the cost of the meal. Either way, if the audience is excited to be supporting a good cause, these can raise money to support Back Bay Mission.

Of course, different churches do things differently. Some congregations prepare low country shrimp boil with sausage, potatoes, corn, and more. Some serve their boils on plates. Some add salads, garlic bread, and non-shrimp options. Some raise money through silent auctions and raffles. Some have wine pulls. Shrimp boils are as diverse as the congregations that host them.

Below, we’re going to give some suggestions on hosting a shrimp boil that you can mix and match. This will help you make your shrimp boil yours while keeping the common core that brings all shrimp boils together: strengthening neighborhoods, seeking justice, and transforming lives.

The Food

Gulf Coast shrimp boils are usually simple. This recipe will serve eight, so multiply accordingly:

• Thaw and separate 5 lbs. of frozen shrimp. We suggest 26/30 count shrimp, which means 26 to 30 shrimp per pound. These are sometimes labeled ‘Extra Large’ shrimp.
• Bring 3/4 gallons of water, 1/2 cup of salt, 1/2 cup of lemon juice, and 1 oz. Zatarain’s liquid shrimp and crab boil (or 1 bag Zatarain’s dry shrimp and crab boil) to a boil.
• Add the shrimp to the water.
• Boil the shrimp for four to six minutes. After that, remove a shrimp from the water, shock it in cold water, and test it for doneness. If done, the shell will be separating from the flesh, which will be firm and white.
• Once the shrimp is done, remove it from heat and 1/2 gallon of cold water to stop the cooking process. Steep the shrimp for three to five minutes. Drain and serve hot.

You might prefer a low country shrimp boil, with more ingredients. And many congregations add salads, garlic bread, and cocktail sauce. You can find some recipes here:

• Low Country Shrimp Boil, Cocktail Sauce, and Lemon Butter Sauce (from epicurious.com)
• Garlic Bread (from allrecipes.com)
• Ten Quick and Easy Green Salad Recipes (from realsimple.com)

You may also want to have a non-shrimp option for kids or others who might just not like shrimp.

The Service

Traditional shrimp boil service is simple. Cover tables with old newspaper and pour the shrimp over the table. Guests can grab, peel, eat, and deposit their peels right on the table. This makes cleanup easy as well: just grab everything and put it in the trash. Most churches that host shrimp boils do something like this, though many also have plates for people. Choose something that fits the personality of your congregation, but we recommend against buffets or formal table service.

The Program

Part of the purpose of any shrimp boil is to introduce people to – or update people about – Back Bay Mission. Usually, this is done through a program after dinner. There are a few different options for a great program.

If your church has recently gone on a mission trip to Back Bay Mission, your volunteers might be able to put a great program together. They can share about their experiences and about what they learned while they were with us in Biloxi.

If you’re new to Back Bay Mission, don’t have any volunteers in your congregation, or just want something a little more special, contact church relations associate Carol Merriman(by phone at 228-243-5322 or ). She’ll be happy to come to your shrimp boil (or, if she’s unavailable, set up a visit from other Mission staff, a member of our Board of Directors, or a volunteer in your area). Please note that we can only send staff if the shrimp boil is raising money specifically for the Mission.

Plan on leaving about an hour for the program.

Raising Money

The other part of the purpose for a shrimp boil is to raise money. There are a few great ways to do this.

First, you can sell tickets. Your best bet here is to figure out the cost per serving and double or triple it. This will make sure that you cover costs and that you raise additional money for the Mission.

Second, you can take a free will offering. This can be done by having baskets for donations on the tables or by passing a basket through the crowd.

Third, some churches decide to add other options for raising money. They can be a lot of work, but silent auctions, raffles, and other events can raise significant amounts of money. Check your state and local laws before raising money in ways other than ticket sales and free will offerings. Some fundraisers, like raffles, are regulated.

Conclusion

Shrimp boils are a great way to introduce your congregation to Back Bay Mission while raising money to strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We hope you’ll consider hosting one at your church or organization. Once you’ve decided to do that – or if you want to explore the idea some more – contact Church Relations Associate Carol Merriman (by phone at 228-243-5322 or ) and let us know!

2017 is almost over. And if you want your gift to Back Bay Mission to count for this year, it’s important to get it into the mail ASAP!

Gifts mailed to Back Bay Mission must be postmarked by December 31, 2017. Gifts postmarked after that date will be counted for 2018. Please mail your gifts to Back Bay Mission, PO Box 288, Biloxi, MS 39533.

If you would like to make your gift online, you can do that until midnight on December 31, 2017.

Thank you for your generous support!

As the end of the year approaches, you’re probably thinking about your next gift to Back Bay Mission. We want to share some important information – especially important if you want to claim your gift on you taxes for this year – about end of year gifts to the Mission.

If you’re mailing your gift to Back Bay Mission, it must be postmarked by December 31, 2017. Gifts postmarked after that date will be counted for 2018. Please mail your gifts to Back Bay Mission, PO Box 288, Biloxi, MS 39533.

If you’re making your gift on our website, you must make the gift by 11:59pm central time on December 31, 2017. You can make your gift here.

Thank you for strengthening neighborhoods, seeking justice, and transforming lives through your gifts to Back Bay Mission!  

Normally, this is where I would tell you a story. And there are so many good stories from Back Bay Mission.

There’s the story about Paul. Paul was disabled and homeless. Thanks to the Mission and our partners, Paul now has a job, an apartment, and people who will work with him as he makes a better life for himself.

There’s the story about Rachel. Rachel had walked herself out of the hospital, after major surgery, because she was afraid that the doctors would steal her organs. One of the Mission’s caseworkers got her back to the doctor, stayed with her during her procedure, and is helping her get the support she needs.

We want there to be more stories like these… stories of lives reclaimed and remade. And we need your help to create those stories.

This year, Back Bay Mission is facing a shortfall in our budget. As people have turned their eyes to other causes, the poor and marginalized of the Mississippi Gulf Coast have been left exposed. And if we can’t close this gap, it will mean turning away someone like Paul. It will mean turning away people like Rachel.

We can’t keep serving people like Paul and Rachel without you.

Please, take a few minutes to give online. Or, mail your gift to Back Bay Mission, PO Box 288, Biloxi, Mississippi 39533.

Together, we can strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives.

As the end of the year approaches, you’re probably thinking about your next gift to Back Bay Mission. We want to share some important information – especially important if you want to claim your gift on you taxes for this year – about end of year gifts to the Mission.

If you’re mailing your gift to Back Bay Mission, it must be postmarked by December 31, 2017. Gifts postmarked after that date will be counted for 2018. Please mail your gifts to Back Bay Mission, PO Box 288, Biloxi, MS 39533.

If you’re making your gift on our website, you must make the gift by 11:59pm central time on December 31, 2017. You can make your gift here.

Thank you for strengthening neighborhoods, seeking justice, and transforming lives through your gifts to Back Bay Mission!  

It’s #GivingTuesday, the annual kick off for end of year giving. Since it began in 2012, #GivingTuesday has become a movement that celebrates and supports giving and philanthropy with events throughout the year and a growing catalog of resources.

So, you’re probably getting a lot of emails and seeing a lot of social media posts asking you to make a gift. You’re probably thinking about who you should support. You’re probably thinking about how you could make a difference today.

And you know the answer: Back Bay Mission.

When you give to Back Bay Mission, you support a community ministry with 95 years of experience serving the poor and marginalized of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. You make sure that people can survive poverty and homelessness through programs like emergency assistance and the Micah Day Center. You help people begin their journeys out of poverty through Bridges Out of Poverty and our community health initiatives. You provide a place of warmth and welcome to people who are neglected far too often.

This #GivingTuesday, strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives with a gift to Back Bay Mission.

Thank you for your generosity.

It’s almost Thanksgiving weekend! For many of us — including Mission staff and volunteers — that means a fantastic meal, time together with family and friends, and maybe even a long weekend. For far too many people, though, it means continuing struggle. The people we serve on the Mississippi Gulf Coast will still be homeless, hungry, and living in poverty. As you gather around the table, please take a moment to remember the people who don’t have a warm home or a hot meal.

Then take a moment to strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives through a gift to Back Bay Mission.

Here are just two ways you can give this Thanksgiving weekend:

Friday (November 24) is Black Friday and Monday (November 27) is Cyber Monday. Both of these days mean great deals online, including Amazon. If you’re making a purchase from Amazon — maybe you’re getting ahead on that Christmas shopping — be sure to go to smile.amazon.com and name Back Bay Mission as your charity of choice. When you purchase one of the tens of millions of eligible products on Amazon Smile, 0.5% of your purchase will come to Back Bay Mission! That may not sound like a lot, but it adds up… and it means that your everyday purchases can strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives!

Tuesday (November 28) is Giving Tuesday. On this sixth annual international day of giving, millions of people from around the world will give to causes they care about. You can give to Back Bay Mission easily and securely on Giving Tuesday— or any other day of the year — right here on our website. Just head to our giving page!

Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for what we have. And one of the best ways to give thanks is to share what we have with people who don’t have enough. Take some time this Thanksgiving weekend to strengthen neighborhoods, seek justice, and transform lives.

Thank you for your support!